I started writing again. In the old way — something every day, in the morning when I can, and spend a lot of related time reading, thinking, organizing notes and papers. The keys for me are not to try to rush and not to get scared self-censor. Part of my block on that Vallejo book … More Et voilà
My friend Omar has a millwork and art workshop where he spends a large part of every day. He says “When I am here, I am happy, and people love my work and thank me for it,” and I envy his non-conflict about his work. In academia we don’t have all the autonomy he has, … More Zen and the art of archery
They have made it too difficult to get. Why should you move across the country to a less than desirable job on the theory that it will be stable and will be a space in which you can do your work, just to be tossed out — particularly when it is not a job that … More On tenure
This is what I learned about priorities. First education: Service and leisure come first. Creative and lucrative work are ornaments that enhance your service potential, or that are parts of leisure. (I was always dissatisfied with this hobbycraft version of life.) College and graduate school: Research and creative work are first, teaching and lucrative work … More On priorities
This has to do with my having traumatized myself by ignoring what was really going on and trying to say my problem was “time management.” The thing is that I do not want to be efficient. I don’t want to sit down with one eye on the clock and try to rush. I don’t want … More On efficiency
I do not understand: The thing you want is buried deep in categories. I don’t know of a way to set percentage directly but you can put points on the category itself and Moodle will calculate percentages from that. Once you’ve set the category, then click on the settings for that category and set the … More Instructions for the Moodle gradebook
It is management of priorities, and thus of self. I told you so, I told you so, I told you so. From the article: What matters now? (People change in time, so it’s natural that priorities change in time, as well. Make sure you’re not acting on yesteryear’s priorities just because you had them last … More I told you it was not time management
I am trying hard to clear my workspace. It always looks neat but that is deceptive since the files and books are not fully organized; part of my block involves not knowing where things are, or not having them at hand. The current revolution has been enabled by my purchase of a new bookcase. I … More The notes, the notes
1/ In the 80s, I was always very taken with Said because he would talk about things my Comparative Literature program would not. I liked the articles “Third World Intellectuals and Metropolitan Culture”, “Travelling Theory,” and other things in Raritan; I liked things in Salmagundi. I should think about this, the fact that these photocopies … More Third world intellectuals and metropolitan culture, et des idées
This is not the kind of goals list that is recommended. One is supposed to have writing or creative goals isolated, but that presupposes that things in the background, are in the background. I have lived like that, too. But my list of goals has to do with looking beyond what is absolutely necessary on … More What I will do
